survival tips for moving to a big city for the first time

29. Duct tape
Somehow, this always seems to come in handy, even at the most unexpected times.
30. A personal treat or two
These will help you feel at home and relieve stress.
Don’t underestimate the importance of that last point. If you always end the night with a glass
of wine, bring a bottle to reward yourself at the end of your long first day. (Don’t forget the
wine opener and a wineglass.) If you’re an avid reader, bring a book you’ve been dying to
read to help you fall asleep at night. If you feel more refreshed or polished while you’re
wearing makeup, bring a tube of mascara. You’re going to be working hard when you first
move in, so make sure you also allow yourself a bit of fun to make the transition as easy as
possible.
d) Budget for the big city cost of living
Let’s say you have your sights set on a new city and you’re ready to pack your bags, get out
of dodge, and start a new life in another part of the country. (Or even the world!) Getting out
of dodge is expensive, but it’s easy to get a ballpark idea of cost.
Online tools like the City to City moving calculator can help you break down the cost of
moving to a new city, depending on the distance and a number of other factors. Enter your
old city, your new one, then some details on how you’ll be living, and the calculator will tell
you how much you can expect to spend. The tool assumes you’ll drive rather than fly and use
a service like PODs, which can make the move a lot more expensive.
If you’re planning a move overseas, try this International Moving Cost calculator instead,
which estimates what it will cost you to ship your belongings to another country, whether it’s
by sea or air.
If you want to get a more customized idea and do the math on your own, here are a few
expenses to consider when you’re budgeting for a big move:
Transportation: The actual cost of carriage if you use a UHaul or delivery service.
Gasoline: Don’t forget to factor in the cost of gas to haul your stuff from one city to
the next, if applicable. If you’re driving yourself, Gas Buddy’s Trip Cost Calculator
can help you save money by pinning the cheapest stops on your route.
Packing material: Tape, boxes, popcorn — this stuff adds up, so it deserves its own
line item in your budget. (Of course, you can score free moving boxes if you look in
the right places, too).
The “Summer Premium”: If you’re moving between May and September, prices
may be a bit more expensive. The calculator estimates it’s 20% more expensive to
move around this time of year.